Dear murderous world, dear gawking heart, br I never wrote back to you, not one word br br wrenched itself free of my fog-draped mind br to dab in ink the day's dull catalog br br of ruin. Take back the ten-speed bike br which bent like a child's cheap toy br br beneath me. Accept as your own br the guitar that was smashed over my brother, br br who writes now from jail in Savannah, br who I cannot begin to answer. Here br br is the beloved pet who died at my feet br and there, outside my window, br br is where my mother buried it in a coffin br meant for a newborn. Upon br br my family, raw and vigilant, visit numbness. br Of numbness I know enough. br br And to you I've now written too much, br dear cloud of thalidomide, br br dear spoon trembling at the mouth, br dear marble-eyed doll never answering back.